On 2 May 2023, the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Mark Butler MP, announced Government investment of $263.8 million from 2023-24 to implement a National Lung Cancer Screening Program, for commencement by July 2025.
The announcement is a culmination of the feasibility assessment conducted by Cancer Australia and the positive recommendation from the Medical Services Advisory Committee supporting the introduction of the program.
Co-designed with the First Nations health sector, the program will maximise prevention and early detection of lung cancer and achieve equity in cancer outcomes for vulnerable groups.
The program is expected to prevent over 500 lung cancer deaths per year.
Further information about implementation will be provided over coming months.